What does flexitarian mean?
Flexitarian refers to a person whose diet is predominantly vegetarian but who occasionally eats meat or fish. The term blends 'flexible' and 'vegetarian', capturing an eating pattern defined by moderation rather than strict exclusion. Flexitarians might eat plant-based meals most days of the week while enjoying animal products on occasion, whether for convenience, social occasions, or personal preference. The word emerged in the 1990s and gained wide currency in the early twenty-first century as interest in plant-based eating grew; it was named word of the year by the American Dialect Society in 2003. Today it is widely used in food marketing, nutrition writing, and everyday conversation, often appearing in phrases such as 'flexitarian diet'. Its connotations are broadly positive, suggesting balance and pragmatism rather than rigid dietary rules, which has made the concept appealing to people who want the perceived health or environmental benefits of vegetarianism without fully giving up meat.
nounA person who eats a mainly vegetarian diet but occasionally includes meat or fish.
- A person who follows a primarily vegetarian diet while occasionally eating meat or fish.
"As a flexitarian, she mostly cooks plant-based meals but enjoys a steak on special occasions."
"After years of strict vegetarianism, he settled into being a flexitarian to make family dinners easier."
"Supermarkets have expanded their plant-based ranges largely to cater to the growing number of flexitarians."
Standard plural, used when referring to multiple people following this diet; as an attributive modifier ('flexitarian'), no plural is needed.
"Surveys suggest that flexitarians now make up a significant share of shoppers."
Coined in the 1990s and named word of the year in 2003 by the American Dialect Society, 'flexitarian' proves you can have your plants and eat meat too.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flexitarian
Flexitarian is a modern English blend, or portmanteau, of 'flexible' and 'vegetarian', formed on the analogy of earlier '-arian' dietary terms like 'vegetarian' (coined in the 1840s) and 'fruitarian'. The word itself arose in the 1990s, though similar ideas about semi-vegetarian eating had circulated informally before then. It entered mainstream use in the early 2000s and was chosen as word of the year in 2003 by the American Dialect Society. The '-arian' suffix it borrows ultimately traces back to Latin-derived forms used to denote adherents of a belief or practice.
How flexitarian is actually used
The word is informal to neutral in register and carries a generally positive, health-conscious connotation, though some strict vegetarians view it as an imprecise label. It functions chiefly as a noun but is also commonly used attributively (e.g. 'a flexitarian meal').
Easily confused with flexitarian
A pescatarian eats fish but never meat, whereas a flexitarian occasionally eats both meat and fish.
A vegetarian excludes meat and fish entirely, while a flexitarian only limits them rather than cutting them out.